LAS VEGAS — In the end, probably the only surprising aspect of Carmelo Anthony’s decision to remain in New York with the Knicks is that he allowed the process to run over 12 days, going more than a week after he wrapped up meetings with the Bulls, Rockets, Mavericks, Lakers and Knicks.

Anthony will sign a five-year deal to remain in New York, and the other teams in pursuit of him have already moved on to other options.

And now, they wait. As much as Anthony’s decision shapes the near future of this team, it is the summer of 2015 that figures to make or break Jackson’s fortunes.

Coming into this season, Jackson hasn’t exactly been doing a hard sell on the immediate prospects for his Knicks. He, like Anthony, signed a five-year deal in New York, and has been careful not to let expectations get overblown. He has a coach — Derek Fisher — who’s never done the job before, newly acquired point guard Jose Calderon, whose top-flight shooting is easily counterbalanced by his dreadful defense, and a quarter of promising young prospects in their first or second seasons (Shane Larkin, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo).

There are also holdovers Amare Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith, any of whom can be had in a trade for a satchel of magic beans and a wink. Jackson is said to be willing to include Iman Shumpert in any deal that would rid him of his roster baggage.

The Knicks roster, then, will be largely unchanged from last season, except for the addition of Calderon and big man Sam Dalembert, who will do his best to impersonate Tyson Chandler. It is hard to imagine that the record — 37-45 — will be all that much better, or that a trip to the postseason is in the offing.

From tipoff, expect the Knicks’ motto to be: "Wait ’til next year!"

Indeed, the Knicks will be well-positioned for commerce on July 1, 2015. That’s when they will be done paying the $23.4 million they owe Stoudemire, and the $11.5 million they owe Bargnani. They will have Anthony on the payroll for $24.1 million, and Calderon at $7.4 million, as well as whatever rookie-contract players they are still carrying. New York could be in position to spend around $30 million in free agency next summer.

For now, it is a deeper class than what we had this summer. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the headliners — he does not exactly fit the Jackson mold for point guards, however — but among the backcourt candidates are Tony Parker, Wes Matthews, Monta Ellis and Goran Dragic.

It is up front that the real stars can be had. Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap, Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert are all slated to be on the market, as well as David West and Al Jefferson.

Still, relying on free agency in 2015 could be problematic. Aldridge has already said he will re-sign in Portland next summer. Gasol is unlikely to leave Memphis, provided the Grizzlies want him, and the same can be said for Parker in San Antonio. Love, too, could be off the market if he is traded to a team that can ink him to an extension.

A look at recent history — you know, 2010 — is a reminder that banking on free agency can be dangerous. That year, the Knicks came out of the summer with a pair of risks, Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton, who quickly broke down and became roster deadweight.

But, with Anthony signed, it’s the best plan that Jackson has on hand. Get through this year. Keep your fingers crossed for July 2015.